Arsenal may have gone a couple of months without a competitive fixture – but spare a thought for Hector Bellerin, who has been on the treatment table since January.
The defender has not featured for The Gunners since seriously injuring his knee against Chelsea in their 2-0 win last winter, in which he claimed an assist for Alexandre Lacazette’s opener – as his place in the side was taken by Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Bellerin has clearly been making progress as he nears a first-team return – and it seems a fair amount of Gunners fans are delighted at the full-back’s improvement.
Posting a Twitter update of himself running in the gym for the first time since his injury, Bellerin’s post was met with mass encouragement from the Arsenal support.
According to The Guardian, Bellerin is thought to be returning to the Arsenal fold ahead of schedule, with the Spaniard said to be targeting a September return despite an expected nine-month lay-off.
And fans are continuing to urge the right-back towards a full recovery as supporters offered Bellerin messages backing the Spain international to come back stronger than ever in the new season:
Come back stronger!
— Rani???????? (@diemannschaft_) July 10, 2019
Come back soon bro
— Quícksílver (@DashOfBellerin) July 10, 2019
I hope you stay fully fit in 19/20 bro. We really need you on the pitch. ?????????
— Jahan Miah (@AllAboutTheAFC) July 10, 2019
We missed you so much…????
— Sarah ???????? (Ziyech and Auba fan ?????????????????????) (@SarahSafwan4) July 10, 2019
Love yah Hector ??????
— Karen Russell (@Kazza9668) July 10, 2019
Our boy is coming back ????
— Joker (@joker913) July 10, 2019
???????? get well soon Captain Bellerin
— AngryTED????™? (@ted0fficial) July 10, 2019
Come back ???? & stronger Gunner.
— MUSVENTURENAL (@musventurenal) July 10, 2019
